Meta VR Headset Causes Allergies In 13 Years Old, Here's The Fact!

Virtual Reality Headset from Meta causes allergies. (photo: unsplash)

JAKARTA - A 13-year-old boy, Lewis Gray, was rushed to the hospital after experiencing an allergy to Meta's virtual reality headset, as a Christmas gift from his parents, last week.

After receiving the Oculus Quest 2 gift from his grandparents, Gray immediately used it to play the game. It wasn't until one day, when Gray's mother, Kristy Reed, discovered that her son had a rash around his eyes and forehead.

Later, Gray was taken to the hospital when his eyes started to swell and doctors said it was an allergic reaction.

"He played with it (Oculus Quest 2) on Christmas Day and turned it off for a few hours. When he woke up in the morning, there was irritation along his cheekbones and forehead. It almost looked like he was wearing blush," said Reed.

"There was a bit of swelling so I gave him Piriteze, but the next morning he woke up and his eyes were almost closed because of the swelling," he added.

When doctors examined him, they suggested a possible delayed allergic reaction to the headset and gave him some medication to prevent the allergy from getting worse.

"It's worrying because you don't know what's going to happen or whether the reaction will continue down the throat. Anaphylaxis is a major concern because the swelling is so severe. It could literally close the eye if it continues," Reed said.

Citing DailyMail, Thursday, December 30, according to a report obtained by Reed, found that the product had been temporarily recalled in July. Meta, the owner of Oculus, started receiving reports of skin irritation in December 2020 and started an investigation.

Oculus Quest 2 also known as Meta Quest 2 is a virtual reality headset created by Facebook Technologies, and can be used for playing games.

In April this year, Meta said they had identified several substances that are normally present in the manufacturing process that could cause skin discomfort.

Meta adds that, although this is below the industry standard, they have changed the manufacturing process to reduce it even further. However, in July, another notice was posted on the Oculus website that more and more people were starting to use headsets.

"We've received reports that a very small percentage (0.01 percent) of Quest 2 customers experience skin irritation after using Quest 2's removable foam facial interface," said Meta.

They also went on to offer headset owners a free silicone cover to protect their skin, and all new units will come with one starting August 24.

"What I can understand from what I've read is the foam on the headset itself and there are chemicals. But it doesn't say anything irritating to the accompanying information booklet," explains Reed.

It is written in the Oculus Quest 2 safety manual that it does state that skin irritation may occur with the use of the product. Gray's device did come with a silicone cover, but Reed claims there's no clue why it's there, so he doesn't use it.

Despite the included warning for epilepsy and the product not being suitable for children under 13, the mother couldn't see anything mentioning a potential skin irritation.

"This is a high-tech gaming device that many children want and we need this warning about the potential risks involved. Why do they still produce it exactly the same when they know there is a problem?" Reed stressed.

Reed then contacted Oculus who have since told him to stop his son from using the product and they will contact him about next steps.

Andrew Bosworth, head of Meta Reality Labs, published a letter in July discussing reports of skin irritation. "We take reports of skin irritation very seriously as soon as we become aware of them and, starting in December, we immediately conduct a thorough investigation including receiving advice from leading dermatologists and toxicologists," said Bosworth.

"Our investigation determined that our manufacturing process was safe, meaning that no unexpected or hazardous contaminants were found in the Quest 2 foam interface or the manufacturing process."